Marcus Trescothick and Paul Collingwood to step in as substitute fielders for fifth test against India due to England's player shortage

Due to a shortage of players, England had to bring in assistant coaches Marcus Trescothick and Paul Collingwood to serve as substitute fielders in the current fifth Test against India at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

In response, Trescothick and Collingwood, former players themselves, were drafted in as substitute fielders. This move mirrors a similar instance in 2020 when New Zealand enlisted an assistant coach as a fielder during an ODI against India.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, England, led by Ben Stokes, made a solitary change in their playing eleven for the final Test, with Mark Wood stepping in for Robinson.

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Assistant Coaches Trescothick and Collingwood Sub in as England’s Fielders

Despite a victorious start to the tour with a win in the first Test in Hyderabad, England succumbed to India’s resurgence, losing the subsequent three matches, which led to India securing an insurmountable 3-1 lead.

Stokes, acknowledging the challenges, emphasized the significance of representing the country and commended the team’s resilience, stating, “It’s another opportunity to represent our country. Great experience for the boys to be part of this series and they have shown great character in their fight.”

England’s Playing XI for the fifth Test comprised Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes (w), Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, Mark Wood, and James Anderson.